Good Will for Tax Time

Stacy, a Good Will employee working at a drop-off site located in the Mira Mesa Park & Ride, describes the period between Christmas day and New Year’s Eve as extremely busy. She says “1251 people” with “tons of boxes” came by on December 31 to make donations. For a week, there were long lines of cars flooding the parking lot, waiting to make their drop-offs.

On an average day, employees claim that anywhere between 100 to 200 people could stop by to make donations. The year-end increase in philanthropy can be explained by the public’s desire for any kind of tax break. One week later, on January 7, only two people were in line at the same site. A man who was dropping off boxes of books purposefully avoided the December 31 rush.

“I’d rather spend my New Year’s Eve with friends or family instead of waiting in line for hours so I can get a tax deduction,” said the man.